Forte La Chiusa (Chiusaforte)

Nothing remains today of this ancient fortress. However, La Chiusa was once an important stronghold, built over a gorge of the River Fella, guarding the road to the North. It was first mentioned under the name of Clusa, in document dated 1136. According to many historians, it was one of several Alpine fortresses armed by Emperor Lothair I in 837, as a defense against possible attacks by his father, Louis I. The Chiusa was mentioned again in 1150, when Patriarch Pilgrim I of Carinthia exempted the Chapter of Gurk and the Abbey of Moggio from the payment of customs duties levied at La Chiusa. An obligatory point of transit on the road to Austria, it rivalled in importance the toll stations of Gemona and Venzone. For this reason, on account of its crucial strategic function, Patriarch Bertram ordered its redevelopment and reinforcement in 1343.

Conquered by the Duke of Austria in 1359, it was occupied by the Venetians in 1420 and by the Hungarians in 1422. In 1509 it was the theatre of a violent battle between the army of the Republic of Venice and the troops of the Austrian Emperor, Maximilian Hapsburg. In 1606 Venice reinforced its defences; in 1797 it came under Austrian rule, like the rest of Friuli. In 1826 the Austrian government ordered its demolition, and in 1833 it was completely pulled down so as to widen the main road to Austria.